If you’ve ever wondered what to do in Montreal in October, picture this: golden leaves, perfect sweater weather, and a city that feels like Europe but with better bagels. I spent 2 days in Montreal exploring Old Port, art museums, and cafés that make you rethink what “good coffee” means. Here’s how it went, and what I’d do again in a heartbeat.
Day 1 – Old Montreal mornings and café magic
Landing just after sunrise, I headed straight to Tommy Café, one of the best breakfast spots in Old Montreal. A flaky croissant, flat white, and morning light streaming through arched windows.
A few blocks away, the Notre-Dame Basilica stole the show (I wasn’t prepared for that ceiling!). Photos really don’t do it justice, the blue vaulted ceilings, the gold details, the quiet hum of awe.
From there, I wandered past Bonsecours Market and along the cobblestones of the Old Port of Montreal. The giant Ferris wheel, La Grande Roue de Montréal, mirrored perfectly in the water like one of those rare, calm travel moments where everything just aligns.
The rest of the afternoon was for the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, a quick stop at the hotel to refresh, and a cozy dinner at La Binerie Mont-Royal for Québécois comfort food (the kind of hearty warmth that follows you back to your hotel!)
Day 2 – Architecture, views, and a little indulgence
The next morning began with a coffee at Café Myriade, followed by one of the most fascinating experiences of the trip, a guided tour of Habitat 67! It’s a Montreal’s iconic housing complex designed by architect Moshe Safdie.
Safdie was only in his mid-twenties when he created this architectural marvel. Fresh out of university with top honours, he convinced Expo 67 organizers to back his radical idea: modular homes stacked together like Lego blocks to form a vertical community. His vision was huge, a self-contained neighbourhood where people could live, shop, and connect, all surrounded by nature and light.
But as idealistic dreams often go, reality intervened.
Walking through it now feels like stepping into the future imagined in 1967. The cubes rise and twist above the Saint Lawrence River, each window capturing a perfect frame of sky and water.
Habitat 67 was supposed to make city life more connected, but ironically, it sits isolated. No schools, hospitals, or grocery stores within the complex. Over time, what began as an affordable housing vision became a high-end address with million-dollar views.
From there, I made my way to Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, one of the city’s most beautiful landmarks. Its green dome glowed against the clear blue sky, and the steps leading up gave a panoramic view of Montreal below.
Lunch was at Mekan & Beyond, where the burger and poutine combo was SUPER! I couldn’t find one that tasty in Vancouver, yet (say Texx Burger or Between 2 Buns, they are good, but not even close to this one..).
I also want to highlight the legendary smoked meat sandwich from Schwartz’s Deli. A Montreal MUST-EAT that lives up to the hype.
If you had just two days in Montreal, what would you explore first?
Discover more from eske studio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.